So, anyone out there think this can be cool? I think it could work pretty well if they set him up as a psycho evangelist, D-Von's got the voice for it, he already has some of the lingo down (TESTIFY!) and it sets up some pretty cool possible one liners like, "You know, you'd think people would have learned after the Spanish Inquisition and the Crusades: Don't F(bleep) with the Christians!" Then again, knowing the WWF, they'll turn this into either an epic fuckup that pisses off every group that sees it, or even worse, it'll last for a month and pass into total obscurity, taking D-Von with it.

I don't know. D-von definately has the voice for it but gimmicks like this are usually dead on arrival (born again Jake and Dustin "HE is coming" Rhodes prime examples). I'd rather just see him sermonize without the religious implications (if that is possible o_O)

I don't know. Color me unimpressed. D-Von's got the voice for it, yes, and he looked pretty good in a suit, but that doesn't mean that this will make for a good gimmick. Also, being a preacher makes him a defacto heel in the WWF (the RTC for example--I know they weren't actual preachers, but they did alot of preaching). This of course totally undermines the Buh Buh "For D-Von" storyline on RAW.

Hmmmm...as a Christian, the gimmick is insulting because of its implications. On the other hand, its not like there aren't individuals like the character D-Von is playing actually out there. The key is that these kind of people are in the minority, in my opinion. Of course, there's no reason the WWF needs to also have some kind of "good guy" Christian character to balance it out; it'd be nice, but I don't know that it'd draw.

The key, in my opinion, is the business. To look for morality or anything from the WWF is an exercise in futility. If D-Von as a heel helps business by creating a big-time heel, that's great. Like others have said, similar gimmicks have failed before. It's the perfect heel role because it has the ability to hit people with some truth--D-Von calls someone a sinner, people feel guilty, they lash out; because it offends people who think its hypocritical, pious, etc.; and then people like me who think its warping what I believe...so there's such a wide range of potential there.

However, if people don't want to see it, D-Von won't draw, and they'll ditch the gimmick. Let the market work. That being said, I think the WWF would be making a mistake to lay the hypocrisy on thick...what made Bret Hart such a great heel in '97 was the fact that in every diatribe, there was some truth in what he was saying. I think they should try as best they can in walking that line with D-Von.

Hopefully other Christian WWF fans will not do the classic reactionary "oh my gosh, they are blaspheming God!" ranting and stuff. Take the gimmick for what it is, you don't need a wrestling character to validate your beliefs...I hope.

Hopefully they don't go and stick a title on him like 'Reverand' or 'Decan'. If they just stick with him being a man who quotes scriptures than this might work. Have him be like the crazy man on the street corner or The Pulp Fiction gimmick.

Religion's such an emotional thing. It's a dangerous thing to use in a gimmick, but it can be effective as hell, if done right. The whole point is to get people emotionally involved, to piss them off or make 'em love you. With this gimmick, D-Von could easily draw massive heel heat, if done properly. The money-grubbing thing is a good start, but BDC's right about the element of truth bit. I think a great way to do it would be ripping on faces as false idols (especially Hogan), although he and D-von aren't going to exactly feud. But he could do some sort of rant about Hogan, and a mid-carder could interrupt in the Orange one's defense, insta-feud. D-von mocks the person as a worshipper of graven images, a heathen.

Personally, I've always liked D-von's wrestling. His flying shoulderblock, at least, makes me mark out. I hope it works out for him.

Hmmmm religious gimmicks haven't had a good track record in the WWF. Reverend Slick, Sisters of Mercy, and Dustin Runnels are bombs that come to mind. I think D-Von could get over on "TESTIFY!" without the preacher schtick. Let's just all be thankful that Buh Buh Ray didn't get the Beaver Cleavage gimmick.

I *liked* Dustin Rhodes' born again gimmick. I laughed out loud when he told us about the wholesome, non-WWF programming on the Discovery Channel. What I think flopped, however, was the payoff. "He is coming!" Who? Oh, just Goldust again. Imagine that? A WWF payoff not paying off...